Electrochemical cells

ABSTRACT

Electrochemical cells having an oxidizable active anode material, a solid cathode material, and an electrolytic solution between and in contact with the anode and the cathode, the electrolytic solution comprising a liquid covalent inorganic oxyhalide or thiohalide solvent and a solute dissolved therein, the inorganic oxyhalide or thiohalide solvent being the sole oxidant material and sole solvent material in the cell. In a first embodiment of the invention, the cathode comprises a solid, non-consumable, electrically conducting, inert current collector upon the surface of which the inorganic oxyhalide or thiohalide solvent is electrochemically reduced, whereby the inorganic oxyhalide or thiohalide solvent in conjunction with the oxidizable anode serves as a source of electrical energy during operation of the cell. In a second embodiment, the cathode is selected from sulfur and certain of the solid compounds of the Group VI A elements with metallic elements. Such cells have higher open circuit potentials than the open circuit potential calculated from the expected anode-cathode reactions. These higher potentials are attributed to the involvement of the solvent in the electrode reactions.

United States Patent Jaggard 1 Jul 29.1975

[54] GAS DEPOLARIZED ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY [75Inventor: Arthur M. Jaggard, Apple Valley,

Minn.

[73] Assignee: Gould Inc., St. Paul, Minn.

[22] Filed: Jan. 30. 1974 [21 Appl. No.: 437,924

[52] US. Cl ..l36/86A. 136/111 [51] Int. Cl ..H01m 29/04. HOlm 1/02 [58]Field of Search ..136/86 A, 111

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,746,580 7/1973 Aker et al...l36/86 A 2,971,999 2/1961 Jacquier ..l36/l 11 2,937,222 5/1960 Kempf136/175 2,712,565 7/1955 Williams,.lr ..l36/l07 2,859,266 11/1958 Garveyet al ..136/l1l 2,942,054 6/1960 Jeannen ..136/l11 X FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1,178,859 l/l970 Great Britain ..136/86 A 575,246 5/1959Canada ..l36/86 A Primary Examiner-Allen B. Curtis Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Jacobson & Johnson [57] ABSTRACT A button type gas depolarizedelectrochemical cell that utilizes an air cathode which is sandwichedand sealed by an insulator and a pair of casings that interlock aroundthe insulator to provide a leakproof cell. The invention also includes aprocess of as sembling the cell to form a leakproof cell with a minimalnumber of parts by compressing the cell so as to cause plasticdeformation and consequently a permanently stressed button cell.

24 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates generally to electrochemical cells and,more particularly, to gas depolarized electrochemical cells usable ashearing aid batteries and the like which are commonly referred to asbutton cells because of their. button-like appearance. The gasdepolarized cells of the present invention have an increased capacityfor the physical size of the cell as well as an improved electrolyteseal.

A further aspect of the invention is the process of assembling the cellthrough a sequence of steps including a sizing operation which producesa sealed cell having a minimum number of components.

2. Description of the Prior Art The concept of gas depolarized galvaniccells is old in the art as evidenced by the numerous issued patents. Themost pertinent patents are the metal air battery patents which contain ahydrophobic membrane on the outside of the air electrode. A newapplication for this type of metal air cell is in the small batteryfield. The art is replete with.conventional small cells, however, todate, there have been few applications of metal air cells to the buttoncell field. An example of a zinc air button cell is shown in the Aker etal. U.S. Pat. No. 3,746,580. Aker shows a gas depolarized galvanicbutton cell which uses an air cathode and a zonc anode.

The present invention is an improvement over this newer type of zinc airbutton cell in which the prior art problem of sealing has beensubstantially eliminated. That is, with the metal-air button type suchas shown in the Aker et al. patent, there are sealing problems. Forexample, Aker must injection mold a strip of plastic on the outer edgeof his electrode assembly to obtain a seal. This has the disadvantage ofdecreasing the usable volume of the cell as well as increasing both thecost and the difficulty in assembling the cell. The present inventionovercomes this problem by utilization of a single insulator whichsimultaneously seals the cell and insulates the positive terminal of thecell from the negative terminal of the cell.

A further aspect of the present invention is that assembly of the cellhas been greatly simplified by the use of components which serve dualfunctions and a sizing process that simultaneously seals and forms thecomponents of the cell into an integral assembled and operative cell.

A still further aspect of the present invention is that the cell hasgreater energy capacity than prior art zinc button cells of the samephysical size because there is virtually no duplication of components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the invention comprises an improvedelectrochemical cell of the button type in which there is a minimumnumber of parts that perform dual functions to thereby increase theusable cell volume. The cell includes a member which functions both asan insulator and as an electrolyte seal between a pair of housingmembers which coact to form a leakproof cell and serve as externalelectrical contacts.

Another feature of the present invention is the novel process ofassembling the cell to produce a sealed integral cell by utilization ofa sizing die that simultaneously assembles and seals the cell into anintegral unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of mymeal air cell:

FIG. 2 is atop view of my cell;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of my cell;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view ofthe partially assembled cell comprising theanode cup and anode material;

FIG. Sis a sectional view ofthe partially assembled cell showing theinsulator on the partially assembled cell components of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded sectional view of the cathode assembly and thecathode cup;

FIG. 7 is an assembled view of the cell components of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the assembled cell prior to sealing andsizing;

FIG. 9 shows a sizing die and the assembled cell during the sealing andsizing process;

FIG. 9a shows a sizing die and the assembled cell prior to the sealingand sizing process; and

FIG. 10 shows an assembled cell prior to the sizing operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings,reference numeral 10 generally designates my metal air cell'containing acathode casing or cup 11, an anode casing or cup 12. an anode materiall3.an insulator 14 located between cathode cup 11 and anode cup 12 andthe cathode assembly 15. In the preferred embodiment the active material13 is amalgamated zinc, however, no limitation is intended thereto. Theembodiment of FIG. 1 is also shown with one additional feature which isnot necessary to the invention but has been added to the preferredembodiment as a safety feature. This added feature comprises a porousabsorbent material such as a blotter 16 which is placed on the gasaccess side of the hydrophobic electrode assembly 15 to act as anabsorber for any electrolyte which may leak from the cell under extremeenvironmental conditions.

Cathode housing or cup 11 is substantially circular in cross section andhas an annular flat portion 24 which slants radially inward fromvertical side 26 to meet a crown or convexo-concave portion 23. Crownportion 23 has openings 20 and 21 therein for allowing gas to diffuseinto cathode assembly 15. It should be understood that while twoopenings are shown, more or fewer openings as well as the size of theopenings can be varied within wide ranges as long as the cell obtainssufficient gas for operation.

The purpose of the crown 23 is to allow for crimping and sizing of cell10. That is, during the sealing and sizing operation the cathode cup 11is reduced in diameter by squeezing the cell containing the cathode cupthrough a die opening which has a smaller diameter than the outsidediameter of the cathode cup. The squeezing or reduction of the outsidediameter of the cathode cup causes the crown portion of the cathode cupto bulge further outward. If the top of the cathode housing cell wereflat instead of convexoconcave, the sizing operation would cause the topof cup 11 to dish inward. If the top dished inward, it would make itdifficult to use the exterior of the cathode cup as an externalelectrical contact. Consequently, in the preferred embodiment, it isdesirable to have a convexo-concave crown in the center of the cup whichwill maintain its convexo-concave shape during the sizing operation.However. other configurations than convexo-concave are operable as longas the top portion of the cathode will continually dish or deform in thesame direction in all cells. It should be emphasized that the sealingand sizing operation is such that the cathode cup is reducedsufficiently in diameter so as to produce a permanent deformation of thecathode cup, i.e., by exceeding the yield strength of the housingmaterial. In a typical example the outside diameter of the cathode cupbefore sizing is 0.460 inches and after sizing, the diameter is 0.453inches. However. no limitation is intended thereto.

In FIG. 1. the bottom portion 27 of cathode housing 11 has been deformedradially inward to shapingly interlock with insulator 14 and anodehousing 12. Because of the radial deformation of the cathode housing,insulator 14 is held in pressure engagement between cathode housing 11and anode housing 12. Insulator 14 comprises an annular member which notonly prevents electrical contact between cathode housing 11 and anodehousing 12 but also forms an electrolyte seal. Insulator 14 has anangled annular top 50 which annularly abuts against cathode assembly 15and an annular lip 51 which extends radially inwards beyond the edge ofthe anode cup 12.

Insulator 14 can be any nonconducting material. however, pliable polymerplastic materials such as high density polyethylene. polypropylene ornylon are preferred. It is desirable that the material used exhibit verylittle tendency to cold flow. As the seals in the present invention areobtained by squeezing the insulator between the cathode housing and theanode housing, it is apparent that the effectiveness of the seals may beimpaired if theinsulator should flow under pressure.

When cell 10 is assembled. sealed and sized as shown in FIG. 1. thelower portion 27 of cathode cup 11 is deformed or clinched radiallyinward to compress insulator 14 between lower portion 27 of cathode cup11 and anode cup 12 to produce a tight pressure fit or pressure sealbetween insulator 14 and the respective housing surface in pressurecontact therewith. Thus, a feature of the present invention is the useof coacting housing members to compress theinsulating membertherebetween to form a leakproof cell.

- In addition. the annular edge 62 of anode housing 12 abuts or is inaxial pressure contact with the underside of the insulator 14 to form anadditional sealing area to prevent the leakage of electrolytetherearound. As can be seen from the drawing, edge 62 is actuallyembedded somewhat in insulator 14. Care must be taken so that theminimum width of edge 62 is not sufficiently small so as to severinsulator 14 during the sealing and sizing process nor sufficientlylarge so as to not form a good contact with insulator 14. Also, a sealis formed between the outside surface of anode housing 12 and the insidesurface ofinsulator 14 which is held in pressure contact with theoutside surface of anode housing 12 and by cathode housing 11.Similarly, an electrolyte seal is provided along the interface ofinsulator 14 and cathode housing member 11 by the pressure contactmaintained between these two members.

The top portion 50 of insulator 14 is held in pressure contact againstthe underside of cathode assembly 15 and is designed so as to haveapproximately the same angle as the annular, flat portion 24 of cathodecup 11. The purpose of having the angles of these annular surfaces andthe insulator and the cathode cup about the same is to prevent squeezingthe cathode assembly from between insulator 14 and the cathode housing11 during the assembly process. Thus, annular flat portion 24 of cathodecup 11 and top annular flat portion 50 of insulator 14 function ascathode-assembly contact areas.

In the present cell, four distinct major sealing areas are formedbetween the cathode housing and the anode housing with at least two ofthe major sealing areas being in series. For example, the electrolyteseal between edge 62 and the underside'of insulator lip 51 is in serieswith the electrolyte seal between the inner surface of insulator 14 andthe outsidesurface of anode cup 12. Similarly, the electrolyte sealbetween the inner surface of cathode housing 11 and the outer surface ofinsulator 14 is in series with the electrolyte seal formed aroundannular region produced by partially embedding lip 27 into insulatorCathode assembly 15 comprises a current collecting member or screen 31.a cathode material 32. a hydrophobic member 30 and a separator 33.Cathode material 32 typically contains carbon black; a catalyst and ahydrophobic binder which is dispersed through out the cathode. I

On the outer surface of the cathode assembly 15 is a hydrophobic member30 which typically may be a polymer such as porouspolytetrafluoroethylene. However, other hydrophobic materials are alsosuitable for use with these types of metal air cells.

Cathode assembly 15 includes an electrical conductive collector screen31 which forms a low resistance electrical contact with cathode cup 11.Typically, the cathode assembly is initially dimensioned so that thediameter is approximately the same as the inside diameter of the cathodecup 11 prior to sizing and larger than the inside diameter of theassembled cathode cup 11 after sizing. This facilitates the placing ofthe cathode assembly in cathode cup 11. yet provides a low resistanceelectrical contact between the edge of collecting screen 31 and theinside of cathode cup 11 by the reduction in diameter of the cathode cup11 during the sizing process. That is, the sizing step not only sealscell 10 but it also insures that there is a low resistance electricalpressure contact formed between current collecting screen 31 and cathodecup 11 because of the radial pressure exerted by cathode cup 11 againstthe circumferential edge of current collector screen 31.

Located in anode cup 12 is anode material 13 which is kept from contactwith cathode assembly 15 by a separator 33. The anode material ispreferably made from zinc or amalgamated zinc powder. However, nolimitation to the materials of the anode is intended thereto.

FIGS. 1. 2 and 3 show cell in various views to illustrate the shape andappearances of the cell as well as the openings and 21 therein for thepassage of gas into the cell. In the preferred embodiment, a blotter 16has been provided immediately inside the crown 23 of cathode 11. Theblotter paper is added as a safety feature to absorb any electrolyteleakage in the cell that might occur under extreme environmentalconditions. However, an additional effective electrolyte seal isprovided by the cathode assembly being axially compressed betweenannular flat top portion 50 of insulator 14 and the lower surface 63 ofcathode cup 11 during the sealing and sizing. This axial compression ofthe cathode assembly is maintained after the sealed and sized cell isreleased from the die. and under normal operating conditions, theelectrolyte is inhibited from leaking out of the cell. In some prior artcells, the edge of cathode assembly 15 has an injection molded ring ofplastic thereon to form a seal and prevent leakage of electrolyte pastthe cathode. However, the present invention eliminates the need for theaforementioned type of sealing and thus permits more efficient use ofthe internal volume of the cell.

Referring to FIGS. 4 through 9. the various steps involved in theassembly of my cell are illustrated. Briefly, the basic steps involvedin assembling a cell are placing the anode material in the anode cup,placing the insulator on the anode cup, placing the cathode assembly inthe cathode cup, placing the cathode cup with cathode assembly on theanode cup and insulator followed by compressing the cell in a sizingdie.

In order to have the steps of the invention result in a sealed, operablecell, certain features have been added to insure the effectiveness ofthe sealing process. One of the features of the present invention is theforming of a crown 23 in cathode cup 11. Crown 23 performs a dualfunction as it forms an external contact for the cathode of the cell aswell as to provide a controlled region of expansion during the assemblyof the cell. That is, during the sealing and sizing of the cell as shownin FIG. 1 the outer diameter of cathode cup 11 is reduced by passing theassembled cell through a sizing die, however. the top portion of cathodecup v11 cannot be easily 'reduced and .con sequently, it must be allowedto deform. By placing a crown in cathode cup 11, the crown deforms orbends upward an additional amount to result in the arcuate shape shownin FIG. 1.

After the anode material has been placed in anode cup 12, the insulator14 is placed over the'anode cup to produce an anode cup subassembly(FIG. 5). Similarly, cathode assembly 15 and blotter l6 are placed inalignment with cathode cup 11 (FIG. 6). In the next step, cathodeassembly 15 and blotter 16 are placed in cathode cup 11 to produce acathode cup subassembly (FIG. 7).

As previously described, the indicated dimension of the cathode assembly15 is shown to be approximately the same as the inside diameter of thecathode cup prior to the sizing step so that the cathode assembly formsa slight interference fit with the cathode cup. However, it may also beof a slightly smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the cathodecup 11 prior to the sizing step. The particular dimension of the cathodeassembly 15 is such that during the reduction in diameter of cathode cup11. the cathode cup will establish electrical contact with the currentcollecting member 31 of cathode assembly 15.

After the cathode cup subassembly and the anode cup subassembly havebeen completed, the cathode cup subassembly is placed on top of theanode cup subassembly (FIG. 8). With the cell in the assembled state, itcan now be subjected to the final sealing sizing step.

During the sealing and sizing process. the cell is inserted in a sizingdie (FIGS. 9 and 9a) having conically tapered sides 81.

Located above die 80 is a power activated annular punch 82. Similarly,located below die 80 and projec- .ting into die 80 is a power activatedpunch having a collar 91 that abuts against the bottom of die 80. Punch90 is held in the position shown in FIG. 90 by a suitable powermechanism (not shown) which applies a constant upward force F againstmember 90. A flat surface 92 is provided on the top of punch 90 forplacing the assembled cell thereon.

In the sizing operation the'assembled but unsized cell 10 is placed onsurface 92. Next, annular punch 82 is brought in contact with the top ofcell 10 and a downward force F is applied to ring punch 82. Force F1 issufficiently large was to overpower the upward force F on member 90. Theforce F, on annular punch forces cell 10 downward into sizing die 80. Asthe diameter of punch 90 is less than the diameter of die 80 it passesfreely through sizing die 80. However, the outside diameter of cell 10is larger than the inside-diameter of conically tapered section 81.Thus, the outer surface of cell 10 is deformed radially inward when cell10 is forced downward in sizing die 80. When cell 10 reaches the bottomof die 80, the flange or skirt 27 of cell 10 is compressed or deformedinward to interlock the anode housing to the cathode housing. FIG. 9shows cell 10 at the completion-of the sizing operation. After the edgesof skirt 27 are deformed or clenched, the force F1 on annular punch 82is removed to allow the force F; on member 90 to push cell 10 andannular punch 82 out of sizing die 80.

'FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of an assembled cell prior to-sealingand sizing. The outside diameter of the anode cup is denoted by D1 andthe outside I diameter of the cathode cup is denoted by D;, and theinside diameter of the cathode cup is denoted by D The thickness of theinsulator 14 is denoted by T2 and the thickness of the anode cup 12 isdenoted by T A reference to the following example of typical dimensionsof an assembled and unsized cell will reveal the inter-relationships ofthe various components.

EXAMPLE diameter D of 0.410 inches and was also formed from steel with acoating of tin on the inside for corrosion resistance. The thickness T1of the anode cup was about 0.010 inches.

The cell in its assembled but unsealed and unsized state was placed inthe sizing die of FIG. 9 and 9a and an axial force F1 of about 10 to 25pounds (preferably about pounds) was applied to annular punch 82. Afterthe cell was deformed in sizing die 80 the cell was removed The outsidediameter D;; of the cell had been reduced from 0.460 inches to 0.453

inches or a 0.007 inch reduction in diameter. This reduction in diameterhelped maintain the cathode cup in good electrical contact with thecurrent collecting screen in cathode assembly 15 as well as shapinglyinterlocking cathode cup 11 against insulator l4 and anode cup 11 toform a leakproof electrolyte seal.

1 claim:

1. A gas depolarized electrochemical cell comprising:

a first metal housing having a closed end and an open end. said closedend having an opening therein to allow gas to enter said first metalhousing. said closed end of said first metal housing forming a firstexternal electrical contact for said gas depolarized electrochemicalcell. said first metal housing having means for fastening said firstmetal housing to a second metal housing;

a second metal housing having a closed end and an open end. said secondmetal housing having a region therein for receiving an anode material.said closed end of said second metal housing forming a second externalelectrical contact for said gas depolarized electrochemical cell: saidsecond metal housing having means for fastening to said first metalhousing:

a cathode assembly including an electrically conductive currentcollecting member. said current collecting member forming electricalcontact with said first metal housing; a hydrophobic layer on one sideof said cathode assembly and a separator on the opposite side of saidcathode assembly;

a single insulating and sealing member having an L-shaped cross sectionshape. said insulating and sealing member having a first surface forforming sealing contact with said first metal housing. said insulatingand sealing member having a second surface for forming sealing contactwith said second metal housing; said insulating member having a thirdsurface for abutting against and extending partially along said cathodeassembly to thereby firmly hold said cathode assembly against said metalhousing;

anode material located in said second metal housing to form electricalcontact with said second metal housing. said anode material locatedadjacent said separator; and an electrolyte in said gas depolarizedelectrochemical cell so that said second metal housing, said first metalhousing, and said insulating and sealing member coact to simultaneouslyseal and maintain said first metal housing and said second metal housingin a leakproof electrolyte seal.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said cell is circular in shape.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said second metal housing has abeveled bottom for mating with said first metal housing.

' 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first metal housing has acrown thereon.

5. The invention of claim 1 including a blotter located on said cathodeassembly.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said one of said metal housings ispartially embedded in said insulator to produce an electrolyte seal.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein there are at least two electrolytesealing areas in series.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first metal housing is deformedradially inward on said second metal housing.

9. The invention of claim 1 wherein said insulator sealing memberprojects past the open end of said first metal housing.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein the first metal housing is steel.

11. The invention of claim 1 wherein said insulating member and saidcathode subassembly are in pressure contact against a portion of saidfirst metal housing.

12. A gas depolarized electrochemical button cell comprising five maincomponents including:

an anode cup having a surface for shapingly engaging a cathode cup andfor holding anode material and forming an external anode contact;

anode material located in said anode cup;

a cathode cup having a surface for shapingly engaging said anode cup andfor holding a cathode assembly and forming an external cathode contact:

a cathode assembly located in said cathode cup;

and

a single insulator and sealing member having an L-shaped cross sectionshape held in compression between said surface of said anode cup andsaid surface of said cathode cup to thereby produce a leakproofelectrochemical button cell.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said insulating member. said anodecup and said cathode cup coact to produce electrolyte sealing regions.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein there are at least two electrolytesealing regions in series between said anode cup and said insulatingsealing member.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein there are at least two electrolytesealing regions in series between said cathode cup and said insulatingsealing member.

16. The invention of claim 15 wherein said anode cup has a beveledcorner for mating with said cathode cup.

17. The invention of claim 16 wherein said cathode cup has a crownportion.

18. The invention of claim 17 wherein said crown contains a gas inletpassage.

19. The invention of claim 18 including a blotter located adjacent saidcathode assembly.

20. The method of assemblying a gas depolarized electrochemical cellcomprising the steps of:

forming a first electrode cup having means for engaging a secondelectrode cup;

forming a second electrode cup having a top edge and means for engagingsaid first electrode cup and nestable in said first electrode cup:

inserting an electrode assembly in one of said first electrode cup andsaid second electrode cup;

placing anode materialin one of said first electrode cup and secondelectrode cup:

placing an insulating and sealing member having an L-shaped crosssection shape on said second electrode cup so a portion of saidinsulating and sealing member engages said top edge of said secondelectrode cup; and nesting said second electrode cup and said insulatingand sealing member in said first electrode cup followed by deformingsaid first electrode cup and said insulating and sealing member untilsaid first electrode cup and said insulating and sealing membershapingly engage said means on said second electrode cup with saidinsulating and sealing member therebetween; 21. The process of claimincluding the step of radially deforming said first electrode cup untila permanent deformation of said first electrode cup occurs.

22. The process of claim 21 including the step of forming a crown in atleast one of said first electrode cup on said second electrode cup.

23. The process of claim 22 including the step of bending said means onsaid first electrode cup until said means on said first electrode cupholds said insulating and sealing member in pressure engagement againstsaid means on said second electrode cup.

24. The process of claim 23 including the step of axially and radiallycompressing said first electrode cup on said second electrode cup.

1. A GAS DEPOLARIZED ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL COMPRISING: A FIRST METAL HOUSING HAVING A CLOSED END AND AN OPEN END, SAID CLOSED END HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN TO ALLOW GAS TO ENTER SAID FIRST METAL HOUSING, SAID CLOSED END OF SAID FIRST METAL HOUSING FORMING A FIRST EXTERNAL ELECTRICAL CONTACT FOR SAID GAS DEPOLARIZED ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL, SAID FIRST METAL HOUSING HAVING MEANS FOR FASTENING SAID FIRST METAL HOUSING TO A SECOND METAL HOUSING, A SECOND METAL HOUSING HAVING A CLOSED END AND AN OPEN END, SAID SECOND METAL HOUSING HAVING A REGION THEREIN FOR RECEIVING AN ANODE MATERIAL, SAID CLOSED END OF SAID SECOND METAL HOUSING FORMING A SECOND EXTERNAL ELECTRICAL CONTACT FOR SAID GAS DEPOLARIZED ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL, SAID SECOND METAL HOUSING HAVING MEANS FOR FASTENING TO SAID FIRST METAL HOUSING, A CATHODE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE CURRENT COLLECTING MEMBER, SAID CURRENT COLLECTING MEMBER FORMING ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH SAID FIRST METAL HOUSING, A HYDROPHOBIC LAYER ON ONE SIDE OF SAID CATHODE ASSEMBLY AND A SEPARATOR ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID CATHODE ASSEMBLY, A SINGLE INSULATING AND SEALING MEMBER HAVING AN L-SHAPED CROSS SECTION SHAPE, SAID INSULATING AND SEALING MEMBER HAVING A FIRST SURFACE FOR FORMING SEALING CONTACT WITH SAID FIRST METAL HOUSING, SAID INSULATING AND SEALING MEMBER HAVING A SECOND SURFACE FOR FORMING SELAING CONTACT WITH SAID SECOND METAL HOUSING, SAID INSULATING MEMBER HAVING A THIRD SURFACE ABUTTING AGAINST AND EXTENDING PARTIALLY ALONG SAID (A) CATHODE ASSEMBLY TO THEREBY FIRMLY HOLD SAID CATODE ASSEMBLY AGAINST SAID METAL HOUSING, ANODE MATERIAL LOCATED IN SAID SECOND METAL HOUSING TO FORM ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH SAID SECOND METAL HOUSING, SAID ANODE MATERIAL LOCATED ADJACENT SAID SEPARATOR, AND AN ELECTROLYTE IN SAID GAS DEPOLARIZED ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL SO THAT SAID SECOND METAL HOUSING, SAID FIRST METAL HOUSING, AND SAID INSULATING AND SEALING MEMBER COACT TO SIMULTANEOUSLY SEAL AND MAINTAIN SAID FIRST METAL HOUSING AND SAID SECOND METAL HOUSING IN A LEAKPROOF ELECTROLYTE SEAL.
 2. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said active anode material is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, and the lanthanide rare earth elements.
 3. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said active anode material is lithium.
 4. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said active anode material is sodium.
 5. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said cathode current collector is cupric sulfide or nickel sulfide.
 6. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said cathode current collector is selenium.
 7. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said cathode current collector is a metallic selenide.
 8. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said inorganic solvent is thionyl chloride.
 9. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said inorganic solvent is sulfuryl chloride.
 10. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said inorganic solvent is a mixture of thionyl chloride and sulfuryl chloride.
 11. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said solute provides at least one anion having the formula X , MX4 , M''X6 , and M''''Cl6 , where M is an element selected from the group consisting of aluminum and boron; M'' is an element selected from the group consisting of phosphorus, arsenic and antimony; M'''' is an element selected from the group consisting of tin, zirconium and titanium; and X is a halogen; said solute further providing at least one cation selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, the alkaline earth metals, the lanthanides, POCl2 , SOCl , and R4N , where R is a radical selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl and isobutyl.
 12. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said solute includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of lithium tetrachloroaluminate, lithium tetrachloroborate, lithium tetrafluoroborate, lithium hexafluorophosphate, lithium hexafluoroarsenate, lithium hexafluoroantimonate, lithium hexachloroantimonate, lithium hexachlorostannate, lithium hexachlorozirconate, lithium hexachlorotitanate and lithium chlorosulfate.
 13. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said solute includes a Lewis acid.
 14. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said solute includes a Lewis base having the general formula AmBn, where A is an element selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and the rare earth elements; B is an element selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and oxygen; and m and n are integers.
 15. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said solute includes a material providing an anion selected from the group consisting of dichloroiodates, dichlorophosphates, perchlorates, chlorosulfates, and adducts of dichlorophosphates with Lewis acids.
 16. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein one of the products of the discharge of said cell is the halide of said anode material, the halogen in said halide Originating from said inorganic oxyhalide or thiohalide solvent.
 17. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said cathode current collector material is formed in situ during discharge of said cell.
 19. The electrochemical cell of claim 18 wherein said anode material is lithium.
 20. The electrochemical cell of claim 18 wherein said cathode material is sulfur.
 21. The electrochemical cell of claim 18 wherein said cathode material is selected from the group consisting of the oxides, sulfides, selenides, and tellurides of metallic elements.
 22. The electrochemical cell of claim 18 wherein said inorganic solvent is thionyl chloride.
 23. The electrochemical cell of claim 18 wherein said inorganic solvent is sulfuryl chloride.
 24. The electrochemical cell of claim 18 wherein said inorganic solvent is a mixture of thionyl chloride and sulfuryl chloride. 